Phillies Sign Beach Bums Lefty Jared Locke

TRAVERSE CITY - The Traverse City Beach Bums have announced that left-handed pitcher Jared Locke as inked a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League.

Locke is a 6'6" 225-pounder from Inman, South Carolina, who signed with the Beach Bums last summer after being released by the Texas Rangers organization. In 21 appearances out of the Beach Bums' bullpen, Locke went 1-1 with a 3.42 ERA in 23.2 innings with 17 walks, 25 strikeouts, and 2 saves while holding opponents to a .218 average. Locke's successful summer in Traverse City included a stretch from July 16th through August 19th where he pitched 17.2 innings without surrendering an earned run.

"We are very excited for Jared to have this opportunity," said Jason Wuerfel, the Beach Bums' Director of Baseball Operations. "He is a 6'6" lefty, throws in the low 90s with great movement, and he is only 23 years old. The sky is the limit for Jared and I believe he will be successful anywhere the Phillies put him."

Locke was originally signed by the Texas Rangers after he finished his senior season at Newberry College in 2006. That summer, Locke pitched for the Arizona League Rangers, going 3-4 with a 4.56 ERA in 47.1 innings with 22 walks and 40 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .275 average. The next summer Locke was promoted to class low-A Clinton in the Midwest League, but was released after only pitching 9.1 innings.